A newly released MCU artbook has showcased an alternate Captain America design, revealing a suit Chris Evans nearly wore, giving fans a fresh perspective on the hero’s cinematic legacy. The Chris Evans scrapped Captain America suit artbook reveal highlights the creative process behind one of the most iconic costumes in Marvel Studios history.
Early Costume Struggles for Chris Evans’ Captain America
Chris Evans, celebrated for his role as Captain America, experienced several costume changes during his time in the Marvel Cinematic Universe. Early attempts at his signature suit ranged from a tactical, paramilitary style to the noticeably bold and brightly colored uniform seen in the first Avengers film. Costume designers, under the studio’s careful guidance, faced the challenge of satisfying not just moviegoers but also fans who cherished the classic look from Marvel comics.
Finding the perfect balance between comic accuracy and modern cinematic taste took time. Many fans and critics felt previous versions fell short, either appearing too much like simple costume-shop attire or straying too far from the original comics. The turning point for many was the debut of the stealth suit in Captain America: The Winter Soldier. This iteration managed to capture the essence of the comic hero while presenting a sleek, contemporary appearance, earning high praise and helping solidify Chris Evans’ place in the MCU.
The Artbook Sheds Light on an Alternate Vision
Marvel Studios: The Art of Ryan Meinerding, a new release focusing on the visual director’s influential work, provides remarkable insight into an alternate path that the character could have taken. According to Ryan Meinerding, tasked by Marvel Studios president Kevin Feige, the team aimed to overhaul Captain America’s look for the film. The process involved drawing inspiration from both the Marvel comics, particularly Marko Djurdjevic’s stealth suit designs, and audience expectations for Cap’s next big-screen adventure.
When Captain America: The Winter Soldier’s producer Nate Moore told Ryan Meinerding they wanted to give Steve Rogers the super soldier ‘Stealth Suit’ from the Marvel comics (designed by Marko Djurdjevic), the artist was excited-but also worried. ‘It’s a cool costume, but it doesn’t have a cowl or helmet, and I knew we could improve on the helmet from Marvel’s The Avengers,’ says Meinerding.
Kevin Feige agreed that it needed a redesign. ‘That was the biggest challenge for me. I was supremely motivated to get the helmet right.’ In the first presentation meeting, Meinerding’s suit design-from the neck down-was approved. But there was originally an additional Cap costume for the film.
Meinerding shares, ‘The back view [opposite, bottom right] was for an alternate suit that was cut from that movie. When Cap came back from the Lemurian Star mission and was in the Triskelion, he was gonna have this updated Avengers suit. So originally, he was not in the stealth suit at all times.’
Visual Details of the Unused Costume
Meinerding’s concept images, made public through the artbook and circulated online, demonstrate a strong visual connection to the suit featured in The Avengers. Yet, this alternate version moves in a subtler direction, trading out the highly saturated color palette for more muted tones. Added elements like a S.H.I.E.L.D. insignia nod to Steve Rogers’ on-screen status at that point within the MCU’s storyline and would have reflected his alignment with his employers before another shift in alliances.
Although this design ultimately did not make it into Captain America: The Winter Soldier, fans can observe its artistic DNA present in later versions of the hero’s attire. From the helmet to the subdued blues and practical features, remnants of Meinerding’s vision appeared in various forms, culminating in the suit worn by Chris Evans in Avengers: Age of Ultron, which is often cited as the definitive look for the character on film.
Legacy and Influence of Alternate Designs
The evolution of Captain America’s costume holds ongoing interest for fans, creators, and those who appreciate behind-the-scenes movie magic. While this scrapped suit never appeared onscreen, its design principles influenced successive iterations and added layers to the discussion about authenticity versus innovation in superhero films. The Chris Evans scrapped Captain America suit artbook reveal also pays homage to the collaborative effort between artists like Ryan Meinerding, input from visual teams, direction from figures like Kevin Feige, and the original comic inspiration credited to Marko Djurdjevic.
This alternate design stands as a testament to the detailed, creative work that shapes the Marvel Cinematic Universe. As new projects emerge and the MCU continues to grow, fans remain eager to catch glimpses of paths not taken, appreciating both realized and unused concepts that define their favorite heroes.
